Chapter 2

Amelia 

My eyes burned, and my head hurts. The palm shielding my face from the morning sun did nothing to alleviate the throbbing in my skull. It has always been like this for me for the past three weeks after "the engagement-night dramas" I couldn't bring myself to tell my father that her wife and daughter ruined it all; rather, I let him dwell on the assumption that I ran away that very night. 

The saddest part of it all was that Frankie was engaged to Rhett that very night. Just like she and step-mother wanted . Dad is just annoyingly obsessive about keeping his reputation. He only had to say that it was his other daughter who was getting engaged and not his first daughter; it was easier for him to say that than find out why his daughter suddenly went missing on her engagement night. 

I won't let those tears escape my eyes again like they do every morning. I would have needed the help of medical rehabilitation, but my father, who had loved me a lot ever since I was born, suddenly got busy, and any spare time he has, he spends it with his other daughter, who had brought him a connection with Rhett's influential father, Mr. Jonathan. He only spares a little time to blame me. 

I stretched my arms wide and sat up in bed. Slivers of sunshine whispered through the window, lighting up my room. I blinked my gaze clear. 

Oh no.  Not again.

Bile rose in my throat as my belly tightened. I ran to the bathroom and leaned over the sink, coughing up all of my stomach's contents. Even though I had barely eaten for the past few days, this early morning bug wouldn't subside.

For the past three days, I've been throwing up in the mornings after I wake up. I have considered going to the doctor, but my feet always feel wobbly whenever I step out of my room, not to talk of me leaving the house completely, and I am reminded once again that everyone out there doesn't have a heart. For the first time, I wished my mother wouldn't die, whichever way ...she did and left me to wallow in mystery. I wish I could wrap my hands around her back in a hug and then soak her shoulder with my tears while she wipes my cheeks with her soft palms and taps my back gently. Whispering, "It's alright, my darling.."

 

Now, though, I was tired of waking up and heaving until my throat was raw. My stomach clenched one last time, and I heaved out nothing. Once the feeling of nausea reduced, I sank onto the toilet, breathing out. My body shook, and a chill ran up my arms. I groaned. What was wrong with me? Am I going to die for skipping meals? Or did I get any deadly disease from the man that rapped me?

Pulling myself up, I rinsed out the sink, brushed my teeth, and washed my face. My flushed, wet reflection stared back at me in the mirror, clueless as I was.

I sighed and reached into the top cabinet for a face towel when my eyes fell on a pack of tampons. I paused. When last did I have my period? Wasn't puking a sign of — no way!

I abandoned the towel and raced for my phone. My tracker app had my period dates and future estimated dates all recorded. I checked and oh God!

My eyes widened

 I am weeks late. My heart skipped and I had to swallow hard, the certainly of the possibility dawning hard on me. Was I pregnant?

No..

I laughed a bit. My period sometimes get delayed so it might be same now. I can't possibly get pregnant. I was a virgin untill that very night and... Oh shit!. It's just once. Could I have also being punished with pregnancy aswell?. 

I breathed out heavily, no need to panick. I'd get myself a good meal and stop stressing my mind and body. I will move on with my life and then everything will return to normal. 

Oh shit! 

This is not working out. None of this calmed my nerves. I quickly washed up and dressed into a boyfriend jean trouser and baggy top. Something that would cover me up incase I am preg,.. oh God. I covered my mouth with my hands. 

The hospital wasn't really far from my dad's house, but I purposely went a bit farther to the one no one knows who I was. I waited patiently untill the result came out and I hastened up with them back home. 

Once I got home, I kicked off my shoe and flew my bag to the bed and went straight to the bathroom. Hands shaking, breath uneven, I sank onto the toilet seat and unwrapped the pregnancy test results 

“Please, don't be positive,” I whispered to the white paper.

Whooshing out a breath, I glanced fastly through it .I didn't see the exact place I should check for. I made up my mind to open it and see whatever fate had for me. 

"Oh God! " I groaned, how could this be?.

Without thinking, I knew who the father was. A strange man, arranged by my best friend, my step-mother and my step-sister. 

A faint moan left my mouth. I didn't plan to have a child, where do I start ? Looking for the father or finally getting to tell dad what really happened that night. It's too late. He won't believe me anymore. 

My head spun as I left the cool bathroom and returned to my bed's warm comfort, but that didn't ease my racing heart. I drew my knees up and held the text result. The positive was still there. Not ever turning negative like I do wished .It failed to change and prove to me all of this was an awful dream. I was still pregnant.

I looked at my flat tommy, I can't possibly hide the pregnancy forever. Soon everyone will see it clearly. I wrapped my hands round my tommy, whoever is in there must be so unlucky to have gotten a share of my ill fate.